The Cold War Culture in American Studies Arms

The Cold War Culture in American Studies

Arms Race • The destructiveness of the atomic bomb was well known by all • Both America and Soviet Union used nukes as chess pieces during different times of the cold war • Leads to the Great Arms Race: Both Sides create nukes by the thousands

The Atomic Era • Fear of Total Destruction • Late 1940 s, USSR successfully test an H-Bomb • 700 times more powerful than A-bomb • Threat of total destruction • Paranoia and panic surround the cold war

Civil Defense Programs • Atomic Bomb in popular culture. Civil Defense programs like “Duck and Cover. ” • Other drills were made mandatory

“Duck and Cover” • Duck and Cover!

Fallout Shelters • Found in many cities like New York • Safe houses from nuclear radiation • Nuclear Fallout Video Clip

Personal Bomb Shelters

Home Bomb Shelter Home bomb shelter, Garden City Long Island

Fallout Shelter Video Clips • Denver Model Homes with Fallout Shelters • Do it yourself Fallout Shelter • The Fallout Shelter: Protecting People from Radiation

The Cold War at home- The Red Scare • Who’s a “Commie”? • Mass paranoia of internal Communists plots to take over America • Fear of Communism ran rampant • 1947 -Federal Loyalty Program • FBI background checks on federal employees • Video Clip

HUAC • 1938 HUAC- House Un. American Activities Committee • Investigate communists in the entertainment industry • 1947 - Hollywood 10 put on trial and blacklisted after hearings • Freedom of Speech?

Spies • Julius and Ethel Rosenberg • Couple charged with Let this be a worthy tribute to the conspiracy to commit memory of those people. Let my espionage and accused of words serve as an expression of passing secrets to Russians gratitude to those who sacrificed their lives to a great cause of the Soviet state at a time when the in U. S. was using its advantage over our state to blackmail our state and undermine its proletarian cause. . . “[ - Stalin • Found guilty and executed 1953 • Only Cold War spies ever executed in U. S. History • Today, evidence proves Julius’s guilt and Ethel’s innocence

Conformity • No one wanted to be accused of being a communist, communist sympathizer or supporter • People put on the perfect life to be very conservative • The more you conformed to the American ideal, the safer you were

The Mc. Carthy Witch Hunts • Sen. Joseph Mc. Carthy from Wisconsin • In 1950 he went on a witch hunt accusing over 200 people in the government and armed forces of being communists • Mostly false accusations • Many lives were ruined • Video Clip

Mc. Carthyism • Name calling: “Commie” and “Pinko” • Hearings were unfair, speedy, and devastating • Many found guilty by accusation and no evidence • Senator was eventually proved wrong but the damage was already done • 1954: Censured by the Senate • He lost credibility and power • 1957: Died ruined and humiliated

Was Tailgunner Joe paranoid or was he on to something? • On to Something? – many influential Americans did have ties to communist organizations • But this usually occurred in the 1930 s when fascism was a bigger threat • USSR did have a spy network which allowed them to develop an atomic bomb (1949) & a hydrogen bomb (1954) • Julius & Ethel Rosenberg convicted of treason and executed • Controversial decision at the time • Paranoid? – no responsible effort to separate fact from fiction • 1954 – Mc. Carthy accused the US Army of being overrun by commies • Provoked Eisenhower to launch an investigation into Mc. Carthy

Senator Joseph Mc. Carthy • All Write: What is your opinion of Joe Mc. Carthy? Was he on a crusade to protect the US from communists? or Was he on a witch hunt to further his own career?

Freedom of Speech takes a hit • Hollywood Ten • All walks of life. Teachers, • Blacklisted Librarians, mail • People were fired carriers, for connections electricians, and associating construction with groups on workers Attorney generals list

The Space Race Begins: Sputnik • 1957 - Soviets sent the first spacecraft into outer space • Sputnik, a satellite, caused a tremendous stir in the US • Nuke from space?

Sputnik sparks Space Race • If they can do it, why can’t we? • It started the Space Race and the creation of NASA in 1958 • Space race Video Clip 1 • Space race Video Clip 2

Change in schools and funding • Called for changes in all schools • National Defense Education Act(NDEA) • NDEA was instituted primarily: • Math and Sciences • Low-interest loans to students • Federal Government insists on science and math – shift away from humanities and arts

Today’s Benefits to the Space Race • NASA 1958 • Technology • Gave birth to the digital revolution

Cold War Culture • Cold war culture developed in the US in response to this • Everything revolved around the threat of the Commies and total world destruction • Pop-culture and the Cold war- Books, movies, TV, songs, etc.

1950 s Movies • …reflect Cold War Fears!

The Baby Boom The baby boom, or rise in birth rates, that had begun in the 1940 s continue d into the 1950 s.

The Economic Boom! • Wartime savings – money to spend! • Consumer demand spurs economic growth! • By 1955 – US produces half of world’s goods • Incomes rise (twice as much as the 20 s)

The GI Bill • Provided returning soldiers opportunities to higher education that they otherwise would not have had • Free Books • Tuition • Stipend • GROWTH OF WHITE COLLAR JOBS!

Changes in the Work force White Collar Workers • Corporate expansion • Office work was less dangerous and exhausting than factory work, and provided more opportunity for advancement. • White collar workers often had little connection to their companies’ products, and often felt pressure to dress, think, and act alike. Blue Collar Workers • New machines reduced the number of manual labor-intensive jobs. • Working conditions and wages improved. • Labor Unions grow! All time high in membership

Suburbs, Cars, and Highways • The GI Bill of Rights ALSO provided lowincome mortgages, enabling many to buy homes in newly built suburbs. • Same house, prefabricated materials, built quickly and cheaply Levittown

Interstate Highway System • Connect Major Cities (and Defence Installations) • Easy to move troops and weapons if necessary • Rest Areas • No traffic lights or railroad crossings

Changes in the way we spend! • From Main Street to shopping mall

From restaurant to fast food!

From Radio… To Television! The Honeymooners I Love Lucy

All Purpose Credit Cards • • All purpose credit cards! Use in stores, hotels, gas stations, etc • Don’t Leave Home Without It!

Cars became part of American culture as new businesses such as drive-in movies emerged.

Cars are now seen as status symbols!

Comfort and Security • Enjoying prosperity and recovering from war and economic depression, most Americans in the 1950 s valued security over adventure. • Youth in the 1950 s enjoyed more time for school, and for recreation, than youth in earlier generations.

…in God we trust! • Renewed interest in religion • Fear of communism, etc • References to God were added to the Pledge of Allegiance and imprinted on U. S. currency.

Men’s and Women’s Roles • Men and women were expected to play strictly defined roles in the 1950 s. • Men hold jobs and support their families • Women were expected to perform domestic duties.

Rock and Roll music style based on black rhythm and blues, Many adults disliked rock-and-roll music, claiming that it encouraged immorality.

Rock and Roll in the ‘ 50 s

Youthful Rebellions Beatniks Young people (often artists and writers) rejected money, power and conformity (no traditional jobs for us!) Beatniks shocked many Americans with their open sexuality and use of illegal drugs. Expressed themselves with poetry and modern jazz music

Abstract Expressionism – unstructured, no rules (non-conformist) • Looking for an emotional response, not your intellectual appreciation